Keira Knightley shrugs off English rose image for saucy GQ shoot

Keira Knightley sprung to fame in costume dramas – but she has shrugged off the wholesome image in a string of saucy snaps for men’s magazine GQ.

Keira Knightley features in the new issue of GQ magazine in a string of sexy outfits (Picture: Norman Jean Roy/GQ Magazine)

The actress, whose new film A Dangerous Method is released on February 10, posed in a series of skimpy outfits for the snaps while pouting provocatively at the camera.

In one shot she is seen wearing a black swimsuit and fringed black jacket, while another sees her draped over a chaise longue in a ’50s-style swimsuit.

Other pics see her donning just a grey sweater and matching high heels while she poses on a chair.

The 26-year-old actress – best known for her roles in Pride and Prejudice and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, admitted that she does not expect her new image to be a hit on home turf.

Other shots see the actress draped over a chaise longue in a swimsuit (Picture: Norman Jean Roy/GQ Magazine)

‘The Americans are generally a lot more supportive,’ she told the magazine.

‘It could just be that I’m not to a lot of people’s tastes. I just think itâs better to do your own thing rather than try to please everyone and just be this mushy thing in the middle.’

Keira admitted she is seen differently by American cinemagoers than those in the UK (Picture: Norman Jean Roy/GQ Magazine)

‘Sometimes it’s like water off a duck’s back and other times it hurts. It is what it is,’ she added.

Fans of the actress may also be taken aback by her role in A Dangerous Method, which focuses on the relationship between psychiatrist Carl Jung ( Michael Fassbender ) and her character, the mentally disturbed Sabina Spielrein.

The full interview appears in the March issue of GQ Magazine

Keira admitted in the interview that she almost turned down the role after telling director David Cronenberg that some of the scenes – most notably one in which she is spanked by Fassbender – were just too risque for comfort.

‘I said, I love you, I love the script. But I donât think itâs something I can do, so I might have to turn it down,’ she admitted.

However the actress – who has previously admitted that she drank vodka to get through the saucy scenes – revealed that the director eventually convinced her.’Once he said he didnât want it to be sexy or voyeuristic, and as soon as I got my head around the S&M mentality, I said, “Okay, letâs do it”.’

The full interview is in the March issue of GQ Magazine which is out on February 3, while A Dangerous Method has its UK premiere in London tonight.